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Labor Day Weekend, a taste of the Blue Ridge.

So, as you all probably know, the Appalachian Trail begins (or ends, if you rather) at Springer Mountain, in Georgia. This area is known as the "Georgia Blue Ridge". All you Virginians out there, don't be offended, we all know where the REAL Blue Ridge is...

However, seeing an opportunity to check this out over the long holiday weekend, Karsten and I and some friends of ours set out to camp in the Georgia Blue Ridge...

Toccoa River~ Reminded us a lot of Goshen, Virginia

We camped out at the Toccoa River Campground. Enjoyed swimming in the Toccoa River, hiking a trail with waterfalls, and exploring historic downtown Blue Ridge. But our trip was cut a little short by the tropical depression that dumped a ton of rain on us. We stayed dry with a tarp that covered our entire campsite.

 

The campsite, complete with the hammock, and classic Subaru outback :)

The guys enjoying some pipe smoking, and coffee. 

On the trail with Abigail

Remembering God's Faithfulness

God is faithful, in the biggest and smallest things.
Today I am remembering God's faithfulness to me over the past year.
Karsten and I have been living in South Georgia for the past 13 months. When we got here last July, we had only 6 weeks together before he started the Pipeline. I was in a new place--a place I'd never even heard of or seen on the map before I found out I was moving here. I was newly married, new to the military life, and my husband was about to leave me. I didn't know anyone. I didn't have a job.
It was a little scary, but I was able to remind myself that God is faithful, and he would take care of me. One of the ways He did that was by providing me with a job:

On this day one year ago I interviewed for an RN position in the busiest Emergency Department in a 2 hour radius. I basically had no experience--up to this point my life had been full of volunteer jobs and waitressing experience.
They offered me a 3pm-3am shift. I didn't want to work night shift and potentially ruin my chances of meeting people outside of work, of being involved in a church or Bible study. I didn't want to isolate myself even more...so I turned down my only offer. But then, only 2 hours after that phone call, I got another call, and another offer. The 11am-11pm shift. I couldn't believe I not only got another chance, but a perfect shift!
I've been working just shy of a year in the ER. It has been the most challenging and most rewarding job I have ever had. In the past year I got certified as a Trauma Nurse, as well as in pediatric and adult advanced life support.
It was great for me to have something to keep me busy with my husband gone 8 out of the past 12 months, but on the flip side I have seen a lot of tragic things: a 15 year old girl killed in a 4-wheeling accident. A 4 year old boy accidentally shot in the foot by his brother, a 50-something man with severe PTSD after serving in the Gulf War. I helped pregnant teenagers, rape victims, chronic alcoholics, drug abusers, infants with pneumonia, heart attack and stroke victims...it was tough. But it is exactly where I wanted to be.
I  am so thankful for God's faithfulness! Not only in providing me with a job that challenges and excites me, but allowing me to have an impact, if even in a small way, on so many people's lives.

My last day of work was on Monday. In a couple of weeks I will move out to Albuquerque, NM with Karsten and start new--at least for 6 months. I hate to leave work, but I am excited to have a fresh opportunity to learn and to serve. I am excited to see what new doors will be opened to me. I know God will be faithful, no matter where He leads me. He has plans for me, and He will carry them to completion as long as I am a willing follower.
That is what I long to be.

Simplicity

I love the challenge of working with little,

Like running out of money a week before the next payday, looking in the pantry and digging through the refrigerator trying to come up with something for a meal. I don't see it as a failure , as maybe my husband would. But as a challenge. and then comes the satisfaction of knowing that you can overcome an inconvenience, that you can be innovative, creative, and still happy with little. 

Our culture drills into us that excess somehow equals happiness, contentment. But have you ever been content?

The only time I am ever content is when I am working hard with my hands. Down on my hands and knees scrubbing a tile floor. Kneeding dough with ring-less hands. There is something satisfying in the work of your own hands, in seeing the fruit of your labor.

Proverbs 30 says "give me neither poverty nor riches, only my daily bread." 

I do not desire poverty, I have not taken any sacred vow to give up all worldly possessions, but I do pray this, "only my daily bread" that I may learn to be a good steward of what God has given me. 

That I may learn to live with less. There is something innately beautiful about this. 

simplicity. 

It is a bit of a buzz word these days, with the trends of being eco-friendly, "green" and all that. 

but really, simplicity is....liberating. 

it is Good.

Home?

I am sitting in "my bed" at "home" ie. my parent's house, and it is a really strange feeling. It has been a long time since I have slept in this bed, and the last time I did, I wasn't alone.
Having Karsten gone sinks in in new ways every now and then...
The window is open, with the fan blowing in cool September air. I'm sleeping in one of Karsten's shirts that smells like our home--a smell I can't describe. Have you ever tried to describe the smell of home? It is just something familiar...
And now I feel slightly torn between what is more familiar, what seems more like home?
Home is a process. For those who grew up in the military, home is not a geographical place. For me, it is, I think.
Home is the river.
The smell of the Virginia woods.
Creeks.
Christmas brunch with sisters.
It is mix-matched sheets.
The garden.
Drinking wine before dinner...


But now, we are developing a new home. Home with Karsten is...
homemade dinners.
praying before meals and forgetting to bless the food
road trips
our screened porch
and long hugs.

I wish I could gather my thoughts tonight and... describe this feeling of disconnect. I am so happy to be here with family, but the most important part of my family, isn't here. I long for him. And I worry about him. I wish we were here together.

Life at Moody

So, I realize that I kind of fell off the face of the earth for the past few months. But, I'm back!
SO much has happened since April and my last post.
I got married. Moved to Montgomery Georgia. Met lots of great Air Force friends there. Moved to Valdosta Georiga, where we are now stationed for the next several years. Karsten and I had about a month together to get settled into our new house--see Facebook for pictures, and I'll try and post some more on here soon.
Karsten is now in Texas for the next 2 months for his first training school in the Combat Rescue Pipeline (called Indoc) If you're interested in what it is like, watch "Surviving the Cut" on Discovery 10pm Wednesday nights.

Oh there is so much to say, but I should really just post pictures and tell our stories that way.

I'm thankful for:
~Christian wives in Karsten's unit !
~A job in the ER starting in October
~Going home to Virginia in under a week
~Supportive family and friends, and prayers for me and Karsten during this time
~A great home!